Wallabies coaches Michael Cheika and Stephen Larkham use internal motivation for Super grudge match

SUNDAY’S Super Rugby clash between the Waratahs and Brumbies will also be a coaching duel between the Wallabies’ No. 1 and his assistant.

Waratahs Coach Michael Cheika takes a training session at Moore Park. Picture: Craig Wilson

IT is unlike any coaching duel we’ve seen before.

This Sunday, Wallabies coach Michael Cheika will prepare his Super Rugby team NSW to play the Brumbies, coached by Wallabies assistant coach Stephen Larkham.

While the pair will catch up every other week to discuss strategies for the Wallabies’ 2015 World Cup campaign, this weekend they’re firmly on opposite sides of enemy lines as the Tahs and Brumbies chase valuable competition points.

Cheika coached NSW to a memorable maiden Super Rugby title last year, but this season it is Larkham who has emerged as early contender for coach of the year, with the Brumbies soaring to the top of the ladder after five rounds.

Larkham agreed to join Cheika’s Wallabies team late last month after months of cajoling by the national boss, and will be in charge of Australia’s attack while Nathan Grey - ironically defence coach of NSW - will be in charge of the Wallabies’ defence.

But assuming that Cheika and Larkham will be out to prove a point to each other on Sunday would be wrong, according to those who know them.

NSW backrower Stephen Hoiles, the former Brumbies captain, was first coached by Cheika in Randwick’s second grade team in 2002, then in first grade the following two seasons before they both took different routes and were reunited at Moore Park last year.

Hoiles knows Cheika better than most and says: “He doesn’t use revenge or that type of thing to motivate the team, I don’t think he will be sitting there thinking ‘I really want to get one over Stephen Larkham’, because at the end of the day how far can that really get you?

“You’ve got different teams to play every week, you’d have to find different people to motivate you.

“If you want to use that ‘whole world is against you us’ attitude it won’t get you very far.

“The big motivation for Cheik and us is to play our style of rugby. We want to sit there after the game on Sunday knowing we did everything we could to entertain our fans and make NSW proud.”

Brumbies halfback Nic White, who has now been coached by Andy Friend, Tony Rea, Jake White, Laurie Fisher and Larkham at the Brumbies in the past four years, also says the team’s motivations this week will be internal.

“You can see how much Bernie [Larkham] cares, it is a feeling of, no one wants to let him down,” White said.

“As a playing group he is certainly a guy you want to play for.

“Sometimes you can come across a coach who has unbelievable knowledge of the game, but they don’t quite get the group feeling.

Brumbies coach and Wallabies assistant Stephen Larkham.

“Bernie, while maybe not to the media, certainly opens up to the boys.

“The Brumbies runs through his family, he is Canberra born and bred, every time he talks about it you can see how much it means to him.”

Cheika and Larkham each use unique techniques for success.

Cheika uses golf clubs and cowbells to motivate his troops before games, while Larkham has introduced regular lunches between Brumbies coaches and administration staff to build closer relationships at the club.

Hoiles recalls how at Randwick, when they were coming up against a lowly side the next weekend and players expected an easier time at training, Cheika would ramp up the intensity of every session.

“He is very good at sniffing out complacency,” Hoiles said.

“At the same time if you have a few nervous guys before a big game, he is great getting you back on track.

“I wouldn’t say he’s changed too much from last year, he is still extremely driven and determined.”

The Brumbies might be top of the table but Larkham’s relentless work ethic won’t allow them to become lazy, says White.

“I remember when he first came here, he would be first in, last out every day,” White said.

“You would come in for breakfast, and he would be there with Laurie sitting on his laptop. You’d be leaving in the evening after a double training session, and there he would be on his laptop with Laurie.”

Originally published as Wallabies coaches Michael Cheika and Stephen Larkham use internal motivation for Super grudge match